PA · Erie · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Erie, PA

Clinical Social Workers in the Erie area earn a median of $28.42 per hour, about $59,120 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $25.43 and $34.52. That ranks 304th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 262nd of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Erie. The free report below lists employers near Erie and what they pay.

Clinical Social Worker pay in Erie, PA

The metro median is 6% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $30.30 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 130 healthcare social workers employed in the Erie metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$21.86$45,47033% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.43$52,89022% below U.S. median
Median$28.42$59,12013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$34.52$71,8005% above U.S. median
Top 10%$36.68$76,29012% above U.S. median

How Erie ranks

  • 304th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 262nd of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 13th of 15 Pennsylvania metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Erie

  • Overall prices in Erie run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 43% below the U.S. average (index 56.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.42 median hour buys what $31.25 buys at the national price level, 5% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Erie, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Erie paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,023
  • Per year: $51,156
  • Per month: $4,263

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Erie metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Erie

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel clinical social worker assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Pennsylvania

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Erie as they open.

All Clinical Social Worker jobs in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Erie

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Erie, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Saint Vincent Hospital
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Upmc Hamot
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lecom Medical Center And Behavioral Health Pav
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Erie Va Medical Center
Erie, PA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Mental health shortage areas in Erie County

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Erie County (4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for social workers and other mental health clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Clinical Social Worker pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Youngstown, OH76 mi$30.29/hr59,123
Buffalo, NY82 mi$29.04/hr276,617
Cleveland, OH94 mi$33.08/hr365,379
Parma, OH99 mi$33.08/hr79,350
Cuyahoga Falls, OH100 mi$29.80/hr50,979
Akron, OH104 mi$29.80/hr189,664

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Pennsylvania · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Pennsylvania

MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Pennsylvania taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Erie

Erie city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Erie, PA?

Clinical Social Workers in the Erie metro area have a median pay of $28.42 per hour, about $59,120 a year. The middle half earn between $25.43 and $34.52 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Erie a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?

Erie ranks 262nd of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 304th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.

Where do clinical social workers work in Erie?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Erie, led by Saint Vincent Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Erie as a clinical social worker?

MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Erie in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Erie County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Erie?

The federal per diem benchmark in Erie is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place clinical social workers in Erie?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Erie and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Erie.

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What do employers near Erie pay clinical social workers? Get the report.

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Pay report · Social Worker near Erie, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Pennsylvania list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Geisinger Medical CenterDanville, PA · 1 wage offer$27.81/ hr$28–$28
  • Wellspan HealthMount Gretna, PA · 1 wage offer$26.77/ hr$27–$27
  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$66.11/ hr$57–$75
  • Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA · 13 postings$63.41/ hr$32–$77

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Pennsylvania list

2What they are offering now

Low$29Median$43.00High$61

368 Social Worker postings with published pay in the US, 303 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 Social Worker roles

  1. Licensed Social Worker / LSWPermanent
    $44.00–$48.00/ hour
    BrightSpring Health Services · King of Prussia, PA · posted 15 days ago
  2. Medical Social WorkerPermanent
    $28.00–$35.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Lancaster, PA · posted 30 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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